New facilities are a success

A NEW waterside base for Chesterfield Canal Trust has received a ‘hugely positive’ response from the public.

Volunteers from the trust, which is working to restore the waterway between the town and the River Trent, have restored the former Hollingwood Lock House to use as a base for their activities. It also includes Nona’s Coffee Shop, which has moved in from its former base at Shireoaks.

Rod Auton, of Chesterfield Canal Trust, said: “We’ve had an amazing first few days since opening last Wednesday, with a hugely positive response from the public. Lots of the locals said how delighted they were to see the old lock house finally being used again.”

As well as scores of people stopping off for a coffee and cake by the canal in the early summer sunshine, children from Hollingwood Primary School and local residents headed to the site to create a community garden featuring herbs and trees.